Shooting-gallery.



No. 794,775. PATENTED JULY 18, 1905. W. J. BOWERMAN. SHOOTING GALLERY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1904.

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W. J. BOWERMAN.

SHOOTING GALLERY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1904.

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WIT/VESSE-S INVENTOE,

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Patented J'uly 18, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W ILLIAM J. BOVVERMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SHOOTING-GALLERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,775, dated July 18,1905,

Application filed November 21, 1904. Serial No. 233,669.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. BownRMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Shooting-Galleries, of

which the followingis a speci lication, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

The invention has reference generally to shootinggalleries, andparticularly to a movable target therefor; and the invention consists inthe novel and peculiar construction of the target, in means foroperating the same; further, in mechanism for indicating when the targethas been struck, and, still further, in the peculiar arrangement andcombination of the various parts of the target mechanism, as will befully hereinafter set forth, and illustrated in the drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a front elevation of a target embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a side elevation thereof, partly in section. Fig. 3 is an enlargedfront view of the target. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section throughthe upper portion of the target, and Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of thetarget with the back of the easing removed showing the target interior.

The preferable form in which the target is constructed is indicated inFig. 1, consisting of a tubular standard 1, supported upon a suitablebase 2 the oppositely and upwardly extending supporting-arms 3 at thetop of the standard, and the ornamental open frame 4,

mounted upon the arms and provided with a pair of swinging doors 5.

Arranged within the ornamental frame described and suitably securedthereto is a casing 6, the front 7 of which is of metallic platingforming the face of the target and at the same time a mask-plate againstwhich stray I bullets strike. The front of the casing is preferablyformed with an annular inwardly-extending offset 8 to form a depressedcentral section in which the targets proper are adapted to be arranged.The mask-plate is further provided with one or more openings 9 above thetargets, through which the signals may be viewed, and with a tray 10below the target proper, in which the spent bullets drop.

The target mechanism consists, primarily, of two members, one normallystationary and the other movable. have shown in the form of a rotarydisk 11, having one or more apertures, as 12, formed in it near itsperiphery, the disk being arranged within the central depressed portionof the mask-plate or target-front and mounted upon a shaft 13, journaledin the casing and within a framwork 14, secured to the casing in anysuitable manner.

The normally stationary member of the target consists, preferably, of adrum 15 of slightly less size than the aperture 12 and arranged withinan opening 16 in the mask-plate or target-front in the path of theaperture in the disk. A shank or spindle 17, carried by the drum 15,projects through an opening in the framework 14, and a coil-spring 18upon the spindle, interposed between the drum and framework, forms ayielding abutment for the drum or target proper and holds the latter inits normal position, as indicated in Fig. 4.

As the disk 11 rotates the aperture 12 therein will at some time in eachof its revolutions register with the target proper, 15, and it is theobject of the marksman to hit the inner target member by shooting at itthrough the opening in the rotary disk. When struck, the member 15 movesinwardly against the tension of the spring, and the shot is indicated bya 'visual signal, an audible signal, or both, as may be desired, theindicating mechanism being fully hereinafter described.

The means employed for rotating the outer or disk member of the targetconsists of a clockwork operated by a weight adapted to be wound or setby the attendant and after being started to operate for a determinedperiod of time, when it is automatically stopped and locked. Thepreferred type of clockwork comprises a gear-whee] 20, fixed upon theshaft 13, a gear-pinion 21 upon a counter-shaft 22 in gear with wheel20, a gear-wheel 23 upon a counter-shaft 24, meshing with a gear-pinion25 on shaft 13, a gear-wheel 26 upon the The movable member Icounter-shaft 22, meshing with a pinion 27 on the counter-shaft 28, andan escapement 29 on said latter shaft, all as plainly illustrated inFig. 4. Any type of clockwork will answer the purpose of operating thetarget for a determined period of time, and While I have described asimple piece of mechanism for this .purpose it will be obvious thatother types could be used, if desired.

The weight for operating the clockwork (indicated by thereference-numeral 30) is attached to a cable 31, adapted to be woundabout the drum 32, loosely sleeved upon an extension of the shaft 13.

33 designates a ratchet fixed upon the extremity of the shaft 13immediately adjacent the drum, and 34 is a pawl pivoted to the drum andengaging the ratchet.

35 is a cable also wound upon the drum in a direction opposite to theweight-cable and serves as a winding device for elevating the weight. Atubular casing 36, depending from the casing 6, is preferably providedas a housing for the weight, while the winding-cable 35 extendsdownwardly through the tubular standard 1 and out through its base to apoint a considerable distance from the target, where the person shootingstands and where it may be conveniently operated by the attendant or bythe marksman when the target is used in connection with coin controlledactuating mechanism.

The locking mechanism for the target is intended and so constructed asto stop all parts of the mechanism at a time when the opening oropenings in the rotary disk are out of registration with the targetsproper, so that when the target mechanism is not in use the targetscannot be shot at.

The locking means preferably employed consists of a lever 38, pivoted tothe casing carrying a pin 39, adapted at a determined period to engagethe notch 10 in the inner periphery of the gear-wheel 23.

39 represents a metal bracket extending from the side of the easing intothe path of the weight 30.

41 is an angle-shaped lever fulcrumedin the bracket 42 on the casingside carrying an offset portion L3, engaging beneath the lever 38. Thelever 41 is further provided with a loop 4:5,through which theweight-cable passes, as indicated in Fig. 4.

As the weight is raised by pulling upon the winding-cable 35 it movesupwardly into engagement with the loop 45, raises said loop and itslever into the position indicated in dotted lines, and moves the pin 39out of engagement with the gear-wheel 23, permitting upon thereleasement of the winding-cable the operation of the mechanism. Thestop 39 is so placed and the other parts of the stopping mechanism soproportioned and arranged that during the descent of the weight thegearwheel 23 will make a determined number of revolutions and the pin onthe lever 38 enter the notch in the gear-wheel, thus locking themechanism when the apertures in the rotary disk are out of registrationwith the targets, the disk being preferably in the position as indicatedin full lines in Fig. 4.

In practice I preferably employ an audible signalas, for instance, abell 50--and a visual signal or indicator in the form of anindieating-block, which are operated simultaneously upon the hitting ofthe inner target member. The bell, as indicated in Fig. 1, isimmediately to the rear of the shank 17 of the target member 15, so thatwhen said latter member is struck the shank will strike and ring thebell. secured a hook 53, which is in normal engagement with an opening5& in the plate mounted for vertical reciprocation in the guide 56.

57 is the indicator-block previously referred to, rigidly attached tothe outer face of the plate 55, the upper portion of which is normallyopposite the opening 9 in the casingfront and preferably bears a numeralthereon, as indicated in Fig. 1.

60 is a spring normally under tension between the bracket 61 upon theguide 56 and a lug 62 on the plate 55. 65 represents a cover-plate forthe opening 12 of the rotary member of the target, suspended from a cord66, which passes over the sheaves 67 upon the casing and is attached tothe vertically-movable plate 55. The cover-plate is normally in theposition indicated in Fig. A, permitting the bullet to enter the opening12 in the disk and strike the inner target member.

When the target proper, 15, is struck by a bullet, the latch 53 isimmediately withdrawn from engagement with the plate 55 and the latteris thrown upwardly by the spring 60. The indicator-block 57, moving withthe plate,

Upon the shank 17 is rigidly displaces the numeral from the opening 9,in-

dicating t0 the marksman simultaneously with the ringing of the bellthat the target has been struck. At the same time the coverplate 65drops down opposite the drum 15, thereby indicating through the opening12 that that particular target is not to be shot at until reset.

While I have described particularly a construction of target wherein oneopening is formed in the rotary disk and a single target proper in theform of a drum arranged in the path of the aperture, it will be obviousthat any number of openings may be formed in the disk and acorresponding number of inner target members provided, if so desired. Inthe drawings l have shown the target mechanism as having three openingsin the disk and preferably, though not necessarily, three innertarconstruction as the one described; also, anumher of signalscorresponding to the number of targets, the former being shownparticularly in Fig. 5. The indicating-blocks obviously differ in lengthbelow the guide-plates, but above the guides are of the same height andare adapted to be reset separately or simultaneously by a singleresetting device.

The preferable form of resetting mechanism consists of a bar 70,supported by springs 71, depending from the casing and provided withguides 7 2, also secured to the casing, a similar bar 73 in the lowerpart of the casing connected to the member by the cords 74 passing overguide-sheaves 75 and an operating-cable As shown, this cable is securedto the lower member 73, passes downwardly through the tubular standard1, and out through its base with the winding-cable to a point where themarksman stands.

By drawing upon the indicator cable the bar 70 is lowered against thetension of its springs, engages one or more of the indicatorplates,forcing the same downwardly until the latch or latches 53 of the targetsproper engage the openings in the plates, when the mechanism is inreadiness for further use.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a shooting-gallery, a targetcomprising two adjacently-arranged relatively movable members, onehaving an opening therein and the other visible periodically throughsaid opening, and means for imparting relative movement to the members,and means for stopping said movement.

2. In a shooting-gallery, a target comprising a rotatable apertureddisk, a normally stationary member in the rear of said disk in the pathof movement of the aperture, means for rotating the disk, means forsetting the rotating mechanism in operation, and means for automaticallystopping said rotatable movement.

3. In a shooting-gallery, a target, an indicator associated therewithoperating automatically upon the striking of the target, and a cover forthe target.

4:. In a shooting-gallery, an apertured casing, a target connectedtherewith comprising two adjacently-arranged and relatively movablemembers, one apertured and the other visible periodically through theaperture, and an automatically-operating indicator associated with saidvisible member, including a member adapted to be moved adjacent to andbe visible through the aperture in the casing.

5. In a shooting-gallery, a target comprising two adjacently-arrangedand relatively movable members, one apertured and the other visibleperiodically through the aperture, a movable member on said visiblemember in the path of said aperture, and a Visible and an audibleindicator, both associated with said last-mentioned movable member andoperatingsimultaneously and automatically upon the striking of saidmember.

6. In a shooting-gallery, a target comprising a rotatable apertureddisk, a complementary member mounted for reciprocation at the rear ofsaid disk in the path of movement of its aperture, and a. gong adjacentto said complementary member adapted to be operated by the latter uponits reciprocation.

7. In a shooting-gallery, a target, an indicator associated therewithoperating automatically upon the striking of the target, a cover for thetarget, and means for resetting the indicator, and removing said cover.

8. In a shooting-gallery, a target, comprising a movable aperturedmember, a plurality of normally stationary members at the rear of saidmovable member arranged in the path of its aperture, an indicatorassociated with each normally stationary member, operating automaticallyupon the striking of said member, and a single operating device forresetting the indicators.

9. In a shooting-gallery, a target comprising two adjacently-arrangedand relatively movable members, one having an opening formed therein andthe other adapted to register periodically with said opening, means forimparting relative movement to the members, and automatically-operatingmechanism for locking the members out of registration after a determinedperiod of operation.

10. In a shootinggallery, the combination of an open center frame, ahollow supportingstandard therefor, the target mechanism arranged withinthe frame, an operating device for said mechanism extending through andbeyond the standard.

11. In a shooting-gallery, the combination of an ornamental open centerframe, doors for the frame-front, a hollow standard upon which the frameis mounted, an inclosing casing arranged within the frame center, thetarget mechanism within said casing, and actuating devices for saidmechanism extending downwardly through the standard and outwardly fromits base.

12. In a shooting-gallery, a rotatable apertured disk, a target to therear of said disk adapted to register with said aperture, means forrotating the disk, and means for stopping said rotation when the targetand aperture are out of registration.

13. In a shooting-gallery, a target comprising a relatively stationarymember and a movable member arranged in advance of one another, theforward member having an aperping said movement when said mark andaperture are out of registration.

14. In ashooting-gallery, a target including a rotatable disk, means forrotating the disk, and automatic means for stopping said rotation aftera predetermined interval.

15. In ashooting-gallery, atarget including a rotatable member,actuating means for the rotatable member, a lock for retaining said IOrotatable member from movement, and releasable means for the lock actingautomatically upon setting in operation said actuating means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WVILLIAM J. BOVVERMAN.

WVitnesses:

H. C. SMITH, ED. D. AUL'I.

